Lamar at Southland Media Day

This year’s Southland Media Day at L’auberge Casino Resort brought unwelcome news to the Lamar football teams, as the Cardinals were picked to finish second-to-last in the preseason polls chosen by the coaches and last in the poll chosen by the SIDs.

“I like being at the bottom (of the standings),” head coach Ray Woodard said. “We’re going to stress we have no say where we start, but we do where we’re going to finish.”

In addition, rule changes were announced, including the following:

1) Targeting, hitting players above the shoulders with the crown of the helmet, will receive and automatic disqualification. This is interesting in FCS play because there is not replay like in FBS play.

2)Pushing and shoving after a play will result in unsportsmanlike conduct penalty. After two unsportsmanlike conduct penalties, the player will be ejected.

3)Blocks below the waist from the front are legal

4)To reduce fake injuries at the end of a game, there will be a 10-second runoff if it happens

5) If a player loses his helmet, that player can stay in the game if a coach uses a timeout